Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

244 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
From these last it would appear that the editor of
the ' Quarterly ' did not consider such compositions
as those which he prepared in escapades at the
Salopian along with Maginn to be any real infringement
of his rule against publishing " Essays in the
Magazine." No doubt the delightful rush and im-
pulse " to make a ' Noctes/ " recalling so much of the
joys of youth, and the wild and flying inspiration
of the past, was an exception, as it evidently was a
delight to him amid the studied decorum and stateliness
of Pall Mall. And that his youthful spirit was
still but little modified (while always exaggerated by
his coadjutor) will appear from the following letter, so
sympathetic and regretful, yet resolute, with which
the presiding genius in Edinburgh received one of
these dashing effusions. It was written in the year
1827, though I am not able to give the precise date.
It ought, therefore, to precede some of the above
letters, but will, I think, be better understood by
coming here. Lockhart continued to send 'Noctes,'
or contributions to the ' Noctes,' for many years.
W. Blackwood to J. G. Lockhart.
I have not been so happy for a long while as I was last
Sunday when Cay called at my house and gave me the article
you had been so good as to send me for ' Maga.' The moment
he left me I sat down and literally devoured it. I cannot tell
you how much I enjoyed the admirable way in which you show
up the Cockney historical romance—the satire is so keen, and
the sketches are so graphic. Forthwith, though it was Sunday
evening, Alexander and I began to copy it, and before we went
to bed we got nearly half through our task.
Next day, however, when I considered the whole more closely
than it was possible for me to do under my first excitement, I
began to think with agony whether or not others would see